Method and apparatus for reproducing images on curved surfaces



` July 26, 1938. l G, Q ROWELL 2,124,711

l METHOD AND APrARATUs FOR REPRODUCING IMAGES oN GURVED suRFAcEs :s sheets-sheet 1 'Filed June 25, 4195'? ze 76 fhg Hllff; Y'

NI/ENTOR I ne 5 gon/ZZ- July 25, 1938- 'G. s. RowELL 25124,?'11 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING IMGESI ON CURVED SURFAQES Filed June 25, 1957 :s sheets-sheet s fr0] f5 /U' NVENTOR @gaffe 5, Fan/eZZ,

Maag/iw.

T T ORNE Y6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPRO- DUCING MAGES N CURVED SURFACES George S. Rowell, Cleveland, Ohio VApplnmnm June 25, 1931, serial No. 150,287

13 Claims.

The present .invention relates to a. process for reproducing images or decorations upon curved surfaces. More particularly the present invention relates to a novel proces of, and apparatus I 5 for easily and conveniently,'as well as4 rapidly, reproducing exceptionally faithful images upon articles which may have irregularly curved surfaces. V While it will be readily apparent that the inventive principles set forth in the present application, as well as the novel apparatus disclosed therein, will ind broad and practical utility in many and various Adierent fields, the particular specific form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and described below, is directed specifically to the problem of reproducing exceptionally faithful wood-grain imitations upon curved sheet metal articles, such for example as instrument boards or other sheet metal parts commonly used in automotive vehicles.

The present invention contemplates the provision offa mold member having an interior configuration substantially the same as the surface configuration of the article to which the decora.-

tions are to be applied. This mold member is preferably lined with some relatively porous and preferably resilient material, such for example, as sponge rubber. A plurality of ports communicate with the rear surface of this porous lining ample as a sheet of rubber, is disposed over the surface of the mold member and has itsmarginal portions secured in sealed relation to the marginal portions of the mold member. is transmitted to-the lining of the mold.' the air between the membrane Aand the interior surface of the mold will be withdrawn and the pressure of the air on the exposed surface of the membrane will serve to force the membrane to as- 5 sume a conguration lyingclosely, .and tightly in engagement with the interior surface of the mold.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a x'nold having a lining therein which 0 is of such construction that it serves to distribute the uid pressure or suction supplied to the mold by one or more parts relatively uniformly throughout the entire'interior surface of the mold in order that as the elastic membraneds' drawn into the mold the suction will be sumcientmaterial and means are provided for supplying As suction ly uniformly distributed to make the membrane lle smoothly over the interior surface of the mold.

The invention contemplates the provision of means for inking the membrane with the desired image prior to the positioning of the membrane upon the mold` member. This permits the ink to be applied to the membrane while the membrane is retained in a flat position. After the y membrane has been drawn to lie closely adjacent thev interior surface of the mold, an article to be decorated is moved into proximity with but slightly spaced from the inked surface of the membrane. At this point fluid pressure may be supplied to the interior of the mold, thus forcing the membrane into printing contact with the surface of the article 'on which it is desiredto reproduce the image, and consequently the ink carried by the membrane will be quickly, efiiciently and automatically transferred to the surface of the article on which it is desired to reproduce the decorations.

The present invention contemplates the provision of easy, simple and conveniently operated mechanism for mounting and moving the article to be decorated whereby the same may -be accurately positioned within the mold in such a way that the exterior surface of the article-to be decorated lies closely adjacent to, but in slightly spaced relation with respect to the inked membrane, so that as fluid pressure is supplied to the mold, the membrane may be forced into uniform contact under uniform pressure with the article to-be printed and by restoring the suction may be quickly and uniformly withdrawn therefrom.

The present invention contemplates the provision of the process which is relatively simple and fool-proof in operation, and yet at the same time is capable of reproducing images with faithvful detail upon relatively abruptly and irregularly curved objects to be decorated.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an extremely simple and easily operated process by which such images may be easily y and faithfully reproduced upon curved surface articles.'

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of relatively porous lining materials for molds of the general type disclosed in the present application whereby the fluidunder pressure, or suction which may be applied to the interior of the mold, will be substantially uniformly distributed throughout the entire interior surface of the mold structure thereby, insuring a proper positioning of the inked membrane within the mold prior to the commencement of the actual printing operation.

Still further the present invention contemplates the provision of -a modified form of the above described process whereby a plurality of separate and entirely distinct designs may be simultaneously reproduced upon the surface of an article to be decorated. The present invention contemplates the provision of means for selectively inking portions of the transfer membrane in a order that after these portions have been separately inked the membrane may be used for the .purpose of simultaneously transferring both of the inked images to the article to be decorated.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of a mold structure having relatively movable portions in order that the mold itself may be utilized to take an actual part in the printing operation.

Many other and further objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become clearly apparent, to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional instrument board which illustrates a typical example of a curved surfaced panel to which decorations have been applied;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view-of one form of the apparatus of the present invention, portions being broken away to illustrate the interior configuration thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, illustrating an instrument board in printing position within the mold and illustrating thetransfer membrane in engagement with the instrument board to apply the image thereto;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View similar to Fig. 3, illustrating in detail the manner in which the elastic transfer membrane is retained within the mold prior to and subsequent tothe actualV .printing operation;

Fig. 5 is a more or less diagrammatic sectional Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an instrument.

-board illustrating a modied decorative surface finish which has been applied thereto by meansv of the improved apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a bed for utiliza.-l

tion in connection with the printingvmachine shown in Fig. 5, illustrating a type of bed which may be utilized when it is desired to print a plurality of separate or different images in a single operation;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, illustrating in detail the manner in which the elastic transfer membrane is retain/ed in positiony upon the'bed;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view similar. to Fig. 8, illustrating a printing bed complemental to the bed illustrated therein; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 9, illustrating in detail the manner in which the elastic transfer membrane is retained in position upon the bed illustrated in Fig. 10. l

With more particular reference to the drawings, it will be readily apparent that the generic inventive principles set forth in this applicationand disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings illustrate merely a specific embodiment of the invention presented. It will be readily appreciated that upon modification of the specific apparatus shown, the apparatus, as well as the process, will find broad and practical utility in many and various different fields wherever it is desired to apply surface decorations to articles having irregularly curved surfaces, or in fact to the surfaces of anyarticles in which the printing is not done in a single common plane.

For purposes of illustration, the present application discloses a vehicle instrument board generally designated as l5 which comprises a front portion I6 and a generally horizontal rearwardly extending top portion l'l. Dashboards of this general character are adapted for use in connection with V-type windshelds and consequently have very substantial curvature formed by the deep draw in their central portions. 'As is conventional in constructions of this general character, the-instrument board is provided with an opening i8 adapted to receive a door to close the glove compartment as is customary, and in addition with openings i9 for various instruments as well as suitable control-receiving apertures 2D. While it will of course be readily understood that the particular type of decorations which may be applied to the exposed surface of this instrument board are entirely immaterial as far as the present invention is concerned, it may be assumed for purposes of illustration that the instrument board shown is to have reproduced thereon an imitation of wood grain.

In order to achieve this result, a mold generally designated as 25 is provided. This mold is provided with' a cavity 26 in its front face, the interior configuration of which cavity is complemental to theinstrument board, the surface of which is to be decorated. The cavity 26 in the mold member 25 is preferably provided with a lining of sponge rubber 21 clearly seen in Figures 2, 3, and 4. While many and various different substances may readily be utilized for the purpose of lining the mold member, it has been found particularly desirable and is considered an important feature of the present invention to provide a lining material for the mold member which is definitely porous in order, as will hereinafter -be seen, to uniformly distribute fluid pressure and suction throughout substantially the entire interior surface of the mold member.

A support member 30 is provided which has an exterior configuration substantially complemental to the instrument board to which the decorations are to be applied and serves to firmly and rigidly support the instrument board in predetermined position during the time the 'actual printing of the decorations thereon takes place. As is clearly seen in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the support member 30 is adapted to carry the instrument board l5 and move the same into printing position within the mold member 25.

'I'he actual application of the decorations to the exposed surface .of the instrument board I5 is achieved by use of a flexible elastic membrane 35 which is preferably formed from sheet rubber or suitable similar material. This rubber member 35 is preferably formed relatively thin, higheral side edges of the elastic membrane and are permanently secured thereto. While in many instances the frame structure serving to support and position `the elastic transfer member 35 may consist solely of the frame members 36 extending along the lateral sides thereof. In some instances it is desirable to provide a complete rectangular frame structure and to achieve this end, additional frame members 31 may be connected tothe marginal edges of the elastic membrane, .which members 3l, together with the members 36, form a relatively rigid generally rectangular supporting frame to which all of the marginal edges of the elastic membrane 35 are secured.

The image to be reproduced upon the surface of the instrument board member may be applied in paint or ink tothe surface of the elastic transfer membrane in any suitable and convenient manner. One particularly simple and satisfactory method by which this result may be achieved is by the utilization of the rotary printing machine diagrammatically illustrated in Figure of the drawings. This printing machine comprises -a roll 40 which has secured to the surface thereof a lithographic plate 4| which is maintained clean and moist by means of a roller 42. Ink is applied. from a series of fountains' 43 to an inking roller 44 which spreads 'the ink substantially uniformly over the surface of the roller 45 engaging the surface of the lithograph- A roller 46 may also be used to dis `member 50 which, as is conventional in construc,

tions of this general character, is adapted to travel horizontally in timed relation with the roll 40 in order that the inked image on the plate 4| will be transferred to the surface of the article carried by the bed member 50. The bed member 50 includes a support member 5| which has a plain upper surface on which is disposed a sheet of relatively coarse, resilient material 52, such, for example, as sponge rubber. A plurality of ports 53 open through the bed 50 and support member5'l in order to communicate with the under side ofthe sheet of sponge-rubber 52. These ports or ducts 53 are all preferably connected to a common conduit 54 which, by means of a suitable flexible conduit 55, communicates with a source of suction.

Suitable means, such, for example, as the clips 60, may be provided upon the bed 50, which clips serve to anchor the frame members 31, to which the elastic membrane is secured, in position upon the bed in order that the membrane will be disposed over the surface ofthe sponge rubber member 52. When the-elastic transfer membrane 35 is in this position, suction may be transmitted to the sponge rubber pad 52 by means'of the conduits 55, 54, and ports v53, in order that the source of suction will serve to retain the elastic transfer member in smooth, tightly gripped relation with respect to the sponge rubber surface of4 the bed member 50. In this connection it, will be readily seen that the sponge rubber pad serves to make the suction applied available to all portions of the membrane disposed -on the bed.

It will be readily appreciated that this construction serves to positively retain the elastic transfer membrane in predetermined position upon the bedmember 53 and, consequently, as

the bed is fed through underneath the-roll 40,

the inked image upon the plate 4| will be transferred to the membrane 35. It will readily be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the utilization'of a lithographie plate for the purpose of applying the inked image to the elastic transfer member 35 is. merely illustrative of one satisfactory means by which this result may be accomplished and that substantially equivalent satisfactory results may be obtained by the use of many other and different forms of printing apparatus so long as the printing process serves to transfer to-the surface of the elastic transfer membrane an inked image such as is desired to be reproduced upon the surface of the article to whichthe decorations are to be applied.

After the bed 5|! is passed through the printf' ing machine and the image has been transferred from the surface ofl the plate 4| to the surface of the elastic transfer membrance,` the frame 36 is removed from the bed 50 and placed in position on the mold member 25 in order that the inked membrane will lie o ver the cavity ln the face of the mold member 25. A generally rectangular frame member '|0 is then urged by suitable means. (not shown) into engagement with the marginal portion ofthe elastic membrane, clamping the marginal portions of this membrane firmly in engagement with the adjacent portions of the mold structure 35, thus positively sealing the elastic transfer membrane with respect to the mold member 25 on which it is mounted. A plurality of conduits 15 extend through the rear of the mold member 25 and communicate with the resilient, porous lining material 2l interiorly of the mold. Each of the conduits '|5 is preferably provided with an individual valve i6 which may be adjusted in order to control the particular desired proportion of fluid pressure or suction, which may be transmitted to various portions of the interior of the mold as hereinafter described in detail.

All of these conduits 15 are preferably connected to a common conduit '|8 which communicates with a two-way valve 19, which two-way valve is in communication with a conduit" 80, and the conduit 6|, the conduit 80 serving to connect the system to a source of.suction, and the conduit 8| serving to connect the system to a source of fluid pressure, such for example as compressed air, the purpose and function of which will hereinafter become more clear.

After the elastic transfer membrane 35 has been mounted in position on the mold member 25 and the marginal portions of this elastic transfer membrane have been sealed with respect to the 'I9 may be opened to establish-communication between the conduits 'I8 and 80, thereby evacuating the interior of the mold and drawing the membrane 35 closely into engagement with the surface of the porous resilient lining material 2l, formthe interior of the mold substantially uniformly -mold by means of the sealing frame 10, the valve throughout the interior surface of the mold member. Likewise itwill be readily seen that if the suction is materially greater in certain areas of the interior of thel mold than'in certain other areas, this diiculty may be overcome by properly adjusting the various valves 16 in order that the suction will be distributed substantially uniformly throughout the entire surface of the porous resilient lining material 21. It has been found that the proper distribution of the suction throughout the entire interior surface of the mold is an important factor in obtaining a uniform stretching and disposition of the elastic transfer memcrane interiorly of the mold.

After the interior of the mold has been evacuated suiciently so that the elastic transfer membrane 35 lies smoothly over the surface of the porous resilient lining material 2, as seen in Fig. s, the support member 30 carrying an instrument board I5, to which decorations are to be applied, may be moved inwardly' into the mold. This movement of the instrumentl board to be decorated into predetermined desired position may be accomplished in any one of various diderent ways. By way of illustration the drawings show a construction utilizing a pair of hydraulic cylinders which serve to force the support member 30 into the mold in substantially the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It has been found extremely desirable to move the instrument board or other curved surfaced article to be decorated into the mold in order that the surface of the article will be in extremely close proximity, but entirely out of contact with the surface of the elastic transfer membrane.

After the instrument board on which the -decorations are to be applied has been moved into the mold, in substantially the position shown in Figs. 3 and '4 of the drawings, the valve 1S is turned to establish communication between the conduit 8| and the conduit 18, thus substituting-a supply of fluid pressure for the suction formerly applied to the interior of the mold. This operation is preferably performed momentarily, and serves to positively urge the elastic transfer membrane uniformly into engagement with the entire exposed surface of the instrument board to which the decorations areA to be applied. It will be readily apparent that the ink carried by the elastic trans- I fer membrane by means of the printing machine shown in Fig. 5, will be immediately transferred to the surface of the dash board. Y

Inasmuch as the dash board was arranged in relatively closely spaced relation with respect to the membrane within the mold, practically no relative movement of the membrane and the engaged surface of the instrument board will take g place. Consequently it will be readily appreciated that the image applied to the surface of the elastic transfer membrane will be faithfully reproduced on the surface of the instrument board be-" ing decorated.

The valve 19 may then again be turned,l servlng to evacuate the mold and withdraw the membrane into substantially the position shown in Fig. 4, thus drawing the membrane completely out of contact with the dash board to which the decorations have been applied. The support member 30 may then be withdrawn from the mold andthe image from the lithographie plate 4| will be found to be faithfully reproduced upon the surface of the dash board member.

'I'he above described process is extremely simple and has been found to produce exceptionally faithful reproductions of the particular design it is sought to obtain. Flu'ther it will be readily appreciated that the results obtained bythe present invention maybe easily and quickly accomplished. Thus it will be seen that the process readily lends itself to production of identical images upon identical parts in relatively large quantities.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings is illustrated a modified form of the invention, which lends itself particularly Well to the reproduction of images upon the surfaces of articles which have very great surface curvature. 'I'he apparatus shown in Fig. 6 is particularly designed for printing on curved surface articles where the arcs of curvature of the Surfaces are of relatively short radius, or in instances where the angle of the surfaces to be printed is substantially inclined with respect to the other surface to be printed. It will be readily understood that the construction shown in Fig. '6 has manyfeatures in common with that disclosed in th'e preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, and it will, of course, be readily understood that the elastic transfer membrane used may be inked in the conventional manner described above.

In the Aform of the invention shown in Fig. 6 a composite mold structure is used comprising an upper portion |00 and a lower portion |0I, both of which portions are supported upon pedestals |02. These portions |00 and |0| are preferably movable with respect to each other and slidably mounted vertically on the pedestals |02.

The mold member formed by the membersI |00 and |0| is preferably provided with a porous resilient lining |03 substantially similar in construction and function to the lining 21 disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention. 'I'he adjacent portions of members |00 and |0| are provided with sealing means comprising a. strip |04 which overlaps a surface of one of the mold members providing a relatively tight joint between the mold members despite the minor relative movement taking place therebetween. The members |0| and |02 are moved relative to each other by means of a hydraulic cylinder |01 having ducts |08 and' |09 communicating therewith, which serve to control the move'- ment of this hydraulic means. The piston of the hydraulic device has connected thereto a fitting ||0 which provides means for pivotally mounting the toggle links which toggle links are pivoted to members ||2 which slidably serve to support the mold members |00 and |0| upon the pedestal |02. vConsequently it will be apparent that when fluid under pressure is admitted through the conduit |08 into this hydraulic cylinder construction |01, the piston therein will be moved forwardly, moving the fitting |0 forwardly and causing the mold members |0| and |00 to be moved apart slightly as a result of the action of the toggle links Likewise-I when fluid under pressure is admitted through the conduit |09, these mold members |00 will be moved toward each other.

As was the case in the preferred embodiment of the invention described above, the mold structure as a whole is provided with a conduit ||5 for establishing communication with the interior cavity thereof, in order that the suction interiorly of the mold and the fluid pressure supplied thereto will be uniformly distributed throughout the interior of the mold. The flexible rubber transfer membrane |20 is sealed in relation'to the mold members by means of a suitable sealing frame |2I, similar in construc- 75 tion and function to the sealing frame 'I0 described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention. The apparatus is operated in substantially the same way as that described above except that during the printing operation the separable portions of lthe composite mold structure may be moved toward each other in order that the printing pressure to which the article beingdecorated is subjected will be substantially uniformly distributed throughout the entire surface of the article as a whole. Consequently it will be seen Ythat the mold member portions may be moved toward each other at substantially the same instant as the fluid pressure is applied tothe interior of the mold to bring the membrane into contact with the work.

Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, illustrate in detail a modified form of the present invention in which means are provided for selectively inking portions of the surface of the elastic transfer membrane in order that a design embodying a plurality of different colors, or a plurality of different designs may be simultaneously reproduced upon the article to be decorated. While it will be readily apparent that the modified form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 7 to 11 is susceptible of many and wide variations depending upon the particular results sought to be produced, in Fig. 7 is illustrated a vehicle dash board |30 which has an opening .for the glove compartment, |3I, and openings for various instruments |32. In the particular form shown, it is assumed that it is desired to provide marginal decorations around the openings I3| and |32, which decorations are different in color or character from the decorations applied to the remaining surface of the instrument board as a whole.

In order to achieve this result, the bed member 50, which is utilized for inking the elastic y transfer membrane, is provided-with a support member |33 which has thereon a composite sponge rubber pad |34, portions |35 of which are raised above the remaining portions of the pad. Consequently it will be readily apparent that when the elastic transfer membrane 35 is stretched over this bed member and suction is applied through the ports 53, the membrane will be drawn down so that its surface follows closely the configuration of the exposed surface of the pad |34. Consequently only the raised portion |35 of the bed will be exposed tothe action of' the inking roll 4|, when passed through to ink the membrane. IAfter the membrane has thus been inked, it is transferred from the bed member disclosed in Fig. 8 to the bed member |40 disclosed in Fig. 10. This bed member |40 comprises a base member `.53, a support member |4I, and a sponge rubber pad |42 which is of com-A posite construction, including portions |43 which arecomplemental in size and shape to the portions |35 except in the bed illustrated in Fig. 10, these portions |43 having their upper surfaces disposed below the plane of the remainder of the pad rather than above the plane of the remainder of the pad, as was the case in the construction disclosed in Figs.. 8 and I9. Consequently it will be seen that the bed shown in Figs. 10 and 11' may be passed through a printing machine similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5, and the exposed portions of the membrane will be inked, and the portions which Were inked in the prior inking process will not come in contact with the inking roll. After the membrane has thusI been selectively inked in two different areas with two different types or colors of ink, the membrane as a Iwhole may be transferred to the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

In this manner it will be appreciated that-the' elastic transfer membrane will have applied to the exposed surfaces thereof 'two separate designs which together make up the entire inked qsurface of the membrane.` The membrane may then be used to print the surface of a curved surface of the article to be decorated in substantially the manner as has been described above.

It will be readily appreciated that the specific embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described -above are merely illustrative of the generic inventive concept presented in this application.

Many other and further modificationsthereof falling within the scope of thesubjoined claims will become clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. The method of applying images to curved surfaces which comprises applying an image upon an elastic transfer membrane, disposing said transfer member across a mold member having a configuration complemental to the surface configuration of the article to be decorated. locking the marginal portions of said transfer member in sealed engagement with the marginal portions of said mold member, evacuating said mold to cause said membrane to assumethe conformation thereof, moving -an article to--be decorated into Vproximity to said inked membrane and releasing the suction caused by said evacuation to permit the membrane to engage the article to be decorated.

2. The method of applying images to curved surfaces which comprises applying an image to an elastic transfer membrane, sealing the marginal portions of said transfer membrane to a mold having a configuration complemental to the configuration of the surface of the article to be decorated, utilizing fluid pressure to conform said membrane to the configuration of said mold, moving the article to be decorated into proximity to said membrane and utilizing fluid pressure to bring said membrane into printing engagement with the surface of said article.

' 3. The method of applying images to articles having curved surfaces which comprises disposing an inked membrane overa mold having an interior configuration complemental to the surface to which the image is to be applied, sealing the 'marginal portions of said membrane to the marginal portions of` said mold, utilizing fluid pressure to bring said membrane into intimate contact with the interior surface of said mold and bringingthe articles to be decorated into engagement with said membrane to transfer thel image 'from said membrane to the article to be decorated.

4. The method of applying images to articles having curved surfaces which comprises disposing an inked elastic membrane over a mold havurge the inked surface of said membrane into contact with the surface of the article to be decorated, and subsequently evacuating said mold to draw said membrane out of contact with said article.

5. The method of applying decorations to articles having curved surfaces, winch comprises, applying an image to a flexible elastic transfer member, disposing said transfer member over a mold having an interior configuration complemental to the configuration of the article to be decorated, evacuating said mold from a plurality of separate spaced points wherebyfto draw said transfer member into said mold and tension the same in intimate engagement with the interior surface of said mold, and bringing the article to be decorated into engagement with said transfer member within said mold.

6. The method of applying decorations to articles having curved surfaces, which comprises. applying an image in ink to a transfer membrane, disposing said membrane over a mold having an interior configuration complemental to the configuration of the article to be decorated, evacuating said mold from a plurality of separate spaced points whereby to draw said transfer membrane into said mold and tension the same in intimate engagement with the interior surface of said mold bringing an article to be decorated into proximity with said transfer membrane, applying fluid pressure to the interior of said mold cavity to urge said transfer membrane into\ en- -gagement with the surface of the article to be decorated whereby the inked image from said membrane will be transferred with substantially uniform pressure to the surface of the article to be decorated.

7. The method of applying decorations to articles having curved surfaces, which comprises, applying an image in ink to a flexible elastic transfer membrane, disposing s aid membrane over a composite mold having an interior configuration complemental to the configuration of the article to be decorated, evacuating said mold from a plurality 'of separate spaced points whereby to draw said transfer membrane into said mold and tension the same in intimate engagement with the interior surface of said mold, bringing an article to be decorated into proximity with said membrane Within said mold and moving portions of said mold, toward each other to bring the transfer membrane into contact with the article to be decorated.

8. The method of applying decorations to articles having curved surfaces, which comprises, applying an image in ink to portions of the surface of a flexible, elastic transfer membrane, applying still other decorations in'ink to other portions of the surface of said elastic transfer membrane, disposing said membrane over a mold having an interior configuration complemental to the article to'be decorated, evacuating said mold to draw said membrane into intimate engagement with the interior surfaces of said mold, bringing an article to be decorated into close proximity to' the membrane while thus retained, and urging said membrane into printing engagement with the surface of the article to l be decorated member having an interior configuration complemental to the surface `of the article to be decorated, a membrane for use with said mold and means for clamping said membrane in sealed relation to the marginal edges of said mold.

11. A mold structure for use in printing articles having curved surfaces comprising a mold member having an interior surface complemental to the surface of the article to be decorated, a mem- L brane disposed across said mold and releasable means for securing said membrane in sealed relation with respect to said mold. l

12. Printing apparatus for applying decorations to articles having curved surfaces including a mold member having an interior configuration complemental to the surface of the article to ,be decorated, an elastic transfer member disposed across said mold and sealed to the marginal edges thereof and a plurality of ports for controlling the uid pressure within said mold, and selective means for controlling said ports.

13. Printing apparatus for applying decorations to articles having curved surfaces including a mold member having an interior configuration complemental to the surface of the article to be decorated, an'elastic transfer member disposed across said mold and sealed to the marginal edges thereof and a plurality of ports for controlling the uid pressure within said mold, and a porous lining for said mold for distributing fluid pressure applied to said ports.

GEORGE s. HOWELL. 

